In Gaza, displaced families living in makeshift tents near piles of rubble are facing a new fear—an invasion of large rats. Samah al-Dabla, who lives with her two young children in a temporary tent, said the rodents have become increasingly aggressive despite her efforts to keep the area clean. She believes the rats have grown more violent after feeding on bodies trapped under the debris.

According to the report, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza. The presence of decomposing bodies beneath the ruins has intensified the rat infestation and heightened the risk of disease outbreaks in Gaza City. Thousands of displaced families like Samah’s are now struggling with this additional health hazard alongside the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The growing infestation underscores the severe public health challenges emerging from the prolonged destruction and lack of sanitation in Gaza’s war-torn areas.